Long Overdue

Hi everyone,

I know I am really bad at posting but hopefully these cute little faces make up for the wait. The girls are amazing, growing everyday. Well Melia is growing really well, Elle on the other is hand is growing but at a very slow rate. Elle doesn't like to eat, nowadays talking is WAY more fun. This is extremely stressful for me but she doesn't seem to care..selfish baby! Last weigh in Melia was 12lbs 14oz and Elle was 10lbs. Not too shabby considering their birth weight.

Well here are some pics but I will post the Facebook link which is where I have most of their pictures up.

FACEBOOK LINK

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=211570&l=b631c&id=687475388

Christmas 2008

Elle & Melia

Alright, so we know it's been a bit but give us some slack, we get pretty busy. We're still adjusting to life with two newborns and it is everything but boring around here. The girls are really responsive and noisy nowadays. Melia still hums when she eats and Elle is quite the chatterbug always talking and smiling even as she is eating. Elle's has such a cute grin and Melia always gives us her big toothless smile. Both just melt our hearts and are absolutely precious. Other than that we are going through the motions of raising our baby girls. Right now Melia is in the bathroom on her bouncy chair with the fan on, she loves the noise and we love her not crying...LOL! Who knew?

Elle is the first two pictures and Melia is the last two

Elle

Melia

Sleep...what's that?

Well this is long overdue but I am sure everyone understands. Life is all about Melia and Elle nowadays and actually a bit more about Elle. Never did we think that feeding would be such an issue or shall we say so difficult. Between visiting multiple doctors and occupational therapists visits we have finally realized that our little munchkin has severe reflux. We have managed to keep her feeding tube out for a few days at a time, but she quickly lets us know that she's just not ready to be a big girl yet. It is heart wrenching watching her scream from the pain when the reflux gets the best of her and that is when we know to just snuggle her and let her know we are there. Our last jaunt of a tubeless life was a few days ago and we were 'ordered' to put the tube back in due to her high risk of aspiration(when the food goes into her lungs). Again another major blow for mommy and daddy but time has let us realize that we'd rather have a tube in nose and be at home, than be in the hospital with pneumonia or worse(stopping to breathe). Reflux in a fullterm baby can be serious but is that much worse in a preemie...lucky us. So we may have a tube on our angels face for a while longer, but in the grand scheme of things.....who cares! Elle's last weigh in a few days ago put her a 6lbs 14oz!

Now let's talk about Melia she is our trooper and our feeding machine. She is so patient with us when we need to make her wait because her sister needs more attention. Our last weigh in with Melia was a week ago and she was 7lbs 10oz! It looks like poor Elle will be getting hand me downs from her big sister already.

Still alive...barely

Elle-left Melia-right
Melia-above
Elle-above
Melia-above
Elle-above

We have just finished week 2 at home and we're still at it. The girls are doing well, getting cuter and bigger. We're just still waiting for their hair to grow in from their NICU haircuts. Elle now weighs 6lbs and Melia is 6lbs 13oz. As you can see Elle is still sporting her feeding tube and is refusing to give it up. She teases us somedays by eating really well but that doesn't seem to last long. The doc and nurses tell us that this is really normal and quite common but it isn't making anyone feel better about it. It would be nice to feel normal, with no tubes or meds but it is our reality for the moment. We are getting a routine which consists of my mom helping out when Tige is at work. Her help and company has been unbelievable amazing and I can't imagine that I would have made it without her.